It is truly an incredible feat, that which Connecticut just achieved, as they won back to back NCAA crowns, winning the required dozen games all by “enough” points–I believe by 10 or more in all those games.
Danny Hurley coaching repeat titles in what are “3” and “4” years evokes memories of brother Bob Hurley being a key player on repeat Duke title teams in “1” and “2” years (’91 and ’92).
Connecticut sans a crown until they upset Duke, which had 2 at that point, in ’99 now passes Duke into a tie with North Carolina for third place in title wins with 6.
U.C.L.A. leads with 11 crowns, Kentucky has 8.
Finally it is the third straight “4” year crown for Connecticut as they won the title in both ’04 and ’14 and it is with three different coaches, Jim Calhoun then Kevin Ollie and now Hurley.
Quite an achievement for Connecticut!!
Repeat National Titles winning coach, Danny Hurley is pictured above.
Two truly dominant teams, Connecticut in the men’s event and South Carolina in women’s play, won NCAA crowns, pulling away to victories vs Purdue and Iowa respectively, in the title tilts.
Connecticut, an incredible (12-0), (12-0) in the last two tournaments, repeated as champions, the first team to do so since Florida did so in ’06 and ’07.
Meanwhile South Carolina completed an undefeated season, handing Iowa a second straight title game loss and avenging? a semi-final round loss to them last season.
Connecticut won (75-60) as 7 or so point(s) favorites while South Carolina a similar quantitative favorite posted an (87-75) victory.
Tristen Newton, of Connecticut, pictured below, of Connecticut was named Most Outstanding Player in the men’s event while Kamilla Cardoso of South Carolina, took that honor in women’s play.
Newton, pictured above had 20 points in the title game and was voted the men’s tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Today on another Monday April 8th, there will be a total solar eclipse, the last such until 2044.
It occurs on the exact 50 year anniversary of Henry Aaron blasting his 715th lifetime home run, which yes, eclipsed the hallowed record of Babe Ruth.
I have great thoughts about both of these all-time greats, whose predominant outfield position was in right, however, each played another “out there” place.
Today when “out there” shows a phenomenon, thoughts of Henry and “The Babe” resonate with that night, the NBC telecast, calls by Curt Gowdy, Milo Hamilton and Vin Scully and especially that of my father “calling” to my mother to watch, indelibly and happily etched in my mind.
A veritable sun and moon, 2 for 1. Click below to view Henry’s 700th home run with Harry Kalas on play by play with commentary from Rich Ashburn.
Next, 50 years ago today, #715, one more than Babe Ruth, as called by Milo Hamilton.
NEW YORK — You are invited to Hoops Cabaret New York, the world’s sexiest sports bar, to watch UFC 300, in what is perhaps the best fight card ever assembled, on Saturday night, April 13.
The event will feature 12 current or former champions as well as a former two-time Olympic gold medalist and a standout collegiate wrestler.
The main event sees the return of UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira as he looks to make his first defense of the crown against former titleholder Jamahal Hill. Pereira earned the the title with a knockout of Jiri Prochazka. Hill was forced to vacate the title last year after suffering a torn Achilles while playing basketball.
The fan-favorite Hoops Cabaret is a great place to watch sporting events, with multiple giant screens, Hi-Def TVs, and its futuristic Mega-Tron Video Wall. Every seat has a clear view of the action.
Hoops Cabaret combines the fun of a sports bar with the excitement of a gentlemen’s club. “We love the UFC,” said Hoops girl Corinna. “And we also love performing on stage and up close and personal for you. Hoops is like a sports fan’s dream come to life!”
HOT TIP: Check out the Hoops ‘Man Cave’ and be sure to stay for the After-Party.
HOOPS Cabaret and Sports Bar 48 West 33rd Street, New York City
Court-side, Balcony, + VIP seating, Super VIP “Man Cave”
Next door to Rick’s Cabaret NYC
Both the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Basketball title tilts have 6 plus point(s) perceptions.
This afternoon, at 3 P.M. in host site, Cleveland, ABC “TV’s” the likely high # of viewers, South Carolina/Iowa women’s title game, with South Carolina, “semi’d” by Iowa, last year, the above referenced favorite.
Tomorrow night defending champion Connecticut (11-0) (11-0) in the last two tournaments is favored by the above referenced margin vs Purdue.
For the record, South Carolina eased vs North Carolina State in the women’s semi opener while Iowa bet (-2 plus to -3 plus) escaped, winning by 2, vs Connecticut, a previous 11 time champion.
Yesterday after Purdue (-9) by 13 vs N.C. State, ’twas Connecticut (-11 plus) by 14 vs Alabama.
The only other time Purdue reached an NCAA Tournament final game was in 1969, when their task was even more daunting (dare I say, much more so and that is no knock on Connecticut), as they faced two time champion, U.C.L.A. and their great player, then Lew Alcindor (pictured above) later Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
Mr. Alcindor/Jabbar shot 15 of 20 from the floor, added 7 of 9 free throws, hitting for 37 as U.C.L.A. eased (92-72).
Seton Hall, down seven points (77-70) in the last three minutes, rode a Dre Davis tiebreaking/last points/tournament winning layup, to a (79-77) win vs Indiana State, to win their second N.I.T. crown, the other coming in 1953.
Al-Amir Dawes, the tournament MVP, had 24 points while Kadary Richmond added 21 as ’89 NCAA runner-up, Seton Hall edged the ’79 runner-up, (Earvin and Kelser vs Larry — this Indiana State’s “Larry” put them ahead for the first time in the second half ) Indiana State.
The 1953 crown for Seton Hall was won under coach John “Honey” Russell.
The current “Hall” coach is Shaheen Holloway.
N.I.T. MVP, Al-Amir Dawes, pictured above.
Two teams, title game slight favorite, Indiana State and Seton Hall, who probably, deservedly felt unfairly snubbed by the NCAA Tournament selections, will meet tomorrow night, in the N.I.T Title tilt.
The game will be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, marking the second straight year the once, but now long ago, highly esteemed, N.I.T. will be played outside the confines of Madison Square Garden in New York City.
A bit “late,” but I and maybe only I note or care?– that both these teams/schools were NCAA second place finishers, in years ending in 9.
In still the highest rated and not so arguably important college final, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Greg Kelser starred, as Michigan State took the title 45 years ago, in 1979, defeating an Indiana State team, whose star was Larry Bird.
Ten years later, Michigan, this year an undisputed college football title winner for the first time in 75 years, got Rumeal Robinson to the line, from where his two free tosses (ode to Joe Tait), lifted them to the title vs Seton Hall.
Sadly, the once iconic Sports Illustrated is all but gone, however, memories abound and the cover shown above, so prescient, of the great Larry Bird and two Indiana State cheerleaders rekindles the greatness of player and magazine.
Though I favor the performance and certainly the film, “A Raisin In The Sun,” above the so many great works of art given us by Louis Gossett Jr. , who died days back at age 87, it is he as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley, uttering, to a new bunch of recruits, the same insults he did to the star Richard Gere’s such, juxtaposed with Gere walking on, that resonates with “it is nothing personal” message from which often much can be gained.
Mr. Gossett did so much (it has to be noted this day after the 56 year anniversary of L.B. Johnson, announcing he would not “seek” and with the mistake of that war involvement, so much of him and us/U.S.–that Louis wrote with Richie Havens, the Havens recorded antiwar song, “Handsome Johnny”) and I start with Mr. Gossett in “Raisin,” as “assimilated” George Murchison, in both the show and film, each adapted from Lorraine Hansberry’s epic book.
Next, I cite his role, as “Fiddler” in “Roots,” (for once the public got it right, as it was a highly rated television mini-series), one Mr. Gossett originally did not like (think aunt and —–), however, realized the character, a slave, was to be admired, doing what he had to do in what was a horrible reality and shameful period, one among many, in this country’s history.
“An Officer And A Gentleman” certainly had a happy ending and the Gossett Jr., Gere and Debra “no flash photography,” Winger, (Ms. Winger is a truly deep, highly intelligent person) trio, gave superb. performances.
Again, it was/is nice to see “boy carries off girl,” after his realizations, however Gossett’s “same routine” juxtaposed with Gere/Gone and much else (so much more) that Mr. Gossett brought and leaves, yields great admiration for Louis Gossett Jr.’s incredible acting “chops.”
The great Louis Gossett Jr. pictured above.
Yesterday, after Purdue advanced to their third national semi, denying Tennessee its first, incredible upstart, North Carolina State reached its fourth, winning its 9th straight “must” game, upsetting heavy favorite, Duke.
The national semis have two games (also on a 9/11, Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill began their historic communications) with even larger favorites, Purdue by 9 plus vs N.C. State and defending champion, Connecticut (-11 plus) vs Alabama.
Purdue was “bumped” by U.C.L.A. in both their previous national semis appearances, the last of 3 Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul Jabbar) teams “final rounding” Rick Mount and Purdue in ’69 and the Kiki Vandeweghe led, eventual tournie runner-up to Darrell Griffith and Louisville , team “semi-ing” them in ’80.
N.C. State in its fourth national semi, won the title in both ’74 and ’83 and under Everett Case were semi-d out of the 8 team, 1950 tournament, eventually won by The City College Of New York.
Zach Edey, the 7 foot-4 inch Purdue center, pictured above, hit for 40 points in the Purdue win vs Tennessee yesterday.
The N.C. State ’74 title team had a 7 foot 4 inch center, named Tom Burleson, who played very well in the tournament.
After the incredible tournament run by Connecticut continued and actually intensified, with a (30-0) run in their rout win vs Illinois, Alabama advanced to their first national semi, denying Clemson their first, setting up a Connecticut vs Alabama national “semi” next Saturday.
Defending champion, Connecticut an incredible (10-0) (10-0) in the last two NCAA Tournaments, has 5 NCAA basketball titles all won in the last 25 seasons, (’99-2023) while Alabama, with 11 A.P. football crowns total, won 5 of them, all under Nick Saban, doing so in ’09,’11,’12, ’15 and ’17.
Both Connecticut’s surprising 2014 title (their 4th), and third such in ’11 preceded, respectively a 4th Saban coached ‘Bama crown as well as a second, later that year/season. Their other titles were in ’99,’04, and last year.
Kevin Ollie, pictured above, guided U.Conn to a very surprising 2014 national crown.
